Protesters Protest In Bangkok Demand Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra Resign

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra / PHOTO via Instagram @ingshin21

JAKARTA - Protesters gathered in the Thai capital Bangkok on Saturday demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra. The Paetongtarn government is facing growing anger over border disputes with Cambodia.

The biggest anti-government protest show since his party, Pheu Thai, came to power in 2023, increasing pressure on the Paetongtarn (38 years), which is struggling to revive a shaky economy and keep a fragile coalition of governments united ahead of a possible vote of distrust next month.

Reported by Reuters on Saturday, June 28, the protesters waved flags alongside the Victory Monument, a war memorial at crowded crossroads.

Demonstrations were held by the United Force of the Land, a coalition of activists most of which are nationalist in protest against other governments supported by Shinawatra over the past two decades.

Although previous protests did not directly lead to the fall of the government, the demonstration stepped up pressure that led to judicial interventions and military coups in 2006 and 2014.

The political chaos in Thailand threatens to further undermine the country's struggling economic recovery.

Paetongtarn said he was not worried about the demonstration and had instructed the authorities to ensure the meeting was peaceful.

"That is the right of the people and I will not retaliate," Thailand's PM said on Saturday, June 29.

The Paetongtarn, which controlled the thin majority coalition following the exit of former Bhumjaithai Party partners last week, could face a vote of distrust as parliament convenes again next week.

The Bhumjaithai Party last week withdrew its support for the government on the grounds of the risk of losing Thai sovereignty and integrity after a leaked telephone conversation between Paetongtarn and former Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen. During the phone call, Paetongtarn appeared to be trying to calm the Cambodian veteran politician and criticized a Thai army commander, the red line in the country where the military had significant influence.

The daughter of Thaksin Shinawatra has apologized for her comments.

Now Paetongtarn is also facing legal scrutiny after a group of senators petitioned the Constitutional Court and the national anti-corruption agency with broad powers to investigate its actions over the leaked phone call.

The decision of the two agencies could lead to his dismissal.

Hun Sen, a former ally of Shinawatra, made an unprecedented public statement against Paetongtarn and his family in a televised address for hours on Friday.

Hun Sen called for a change in government in Thailand.

Thailand's foreign ministry described the speech as "extraordinary" while asserting Thailand prefers to use diplomacy to resolve an escalating bilateral dispute.